Overview > Sexual Assault Lawyer
Sexual Assault Lawyers: We Fight For You.
Compassionate and confidential legal help for sexual assault victims. Get expert guidance. Call now at (604)984-7555 to get the support you need.
Help for Assault Victims
The pain and lingering memories of being sexually assaulted leave many victims feeling helpless. The trauma, sense of violation and helplessness can be immobilizing to victims and have long-term effects on the quality of their lives. These psychological injuries can lead to long-term harm and may be eligible for compensation.
Victims deserve to be heard and to expose the person who hurt them.
At Hanson Kohan Lawyers, we only represent victims. Our clients are our greatest priority. We treat all our clients with sensitivity, compassion and respect.
Sexual assault allegations can be made for offences ranging from unwelcome touching to rape. The act(s) would be characterized as intentional and sexually motivated violation(s) done without the consent of the victim.
Fight Assault. Claim Justice.
Our practice focuses on survivors whose experiences involve abuse of authority, institutional failures, or situations where an individual or organization may be legally responsible.
Our practice often helps survivors whose situations involve:
- Abuse by a teacher, coach, healthcare provider, religious leader, employer, or another trusted authority.
- Abuse connected to a school, workplace, healthcare setting, sports organization, religious institution, or a similar organization.
- Childhood sexual abuse or abuse from a long time ago.
- An institution that may have failed to prevent, report, or respond appropriately to the abuse.
- Questions about whether a civil claim may be available against both the perpetrator and an organization.
Every situation is unique. If you’re unsure whether your circumstances may support a civil claim, our team can help you understand your legal options during a confidential consultation.
Sexual Assault is an Abuse of Power
The method used by the perpetrator may be by way of coercion, such as:
- Threats
- Fear of further violence
- Intoxication by drugs or alcohol
- The authority of the perpetrator (such as an employer, teacher, sports coach, mentor, religious, or leader)
Coercion methods most often happen where there are no witnesses. Sometimes victims feel powerless in the situation, do not consent, and may “freeze”. Also, they let coercion methods happen to spare themselves from further harm or possibly worse.
Exploring Your Civil Legal Options
Many survivors are unsure whether what happened to them may support a civil claim.
You may wish to speak with our team if:
- The person who assaulted you was in a position of trust or authority.
- The abuse happened in connection with a school, workplace, healthcare setting, sports organization, religious institution, or another organization.
- You believe others knew, ignored warning signs, or failed to protect you.
- The abuse happened years ago, and it continues to affect your life.
- You’re unsure what legal options may be available or who may be responsible.
If any of these situations sound familiar, a confidential conversation can help you understand whether civil representation may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Understanding Civil Representation
Civil representation may be appropriate if you want to pursue accountability beyond the criminal justice process.
A criminal case and a civil claim are separate legal processes with different purposes and legal standards. Even if criminal charges were not laid, were unsuccessful, or did not result in a conviction, you may still have legal options through a civil claim.
In many cases, a civil claim may involve not only the perpetrator, but also an employer, school, healthcare provider, religious organization, sports association, or another institution that may have failed to protect you.
If your experience involved abuse of authority or an organization that may share responsibility, your legal options may differ from those in other sexual assault claims.
Our role is to assess your circumstances, explain whether a civil claim may be available, and help you understand the most appropriate next step during a confidential consultation.
Your Options
There are two ways to prosecute the perpetrator.
The first way is Criminal Law:
It is important to report the assault to the police for investigation. If you have been raped or hurt go to the hospital right away – the sooner after the assault the better. The police will investigate and potentially press charges. The goal is to punish the perpetrator.
The second way is through Civil Law:
Civil law action helps you take back power and control over what happened to you. The goal is to gain compensation for you as the victim. This is where we can help.
We help survivors pursue civil compensation claims against perpetrators, employers, schools, healthcare providers, religious organizations, sports associations, and other institutions that failed to protect them.
What to Expect During the Intake Process
Our team has more than 40 years of experience representing survivors in civil sexual assault claims against perpetrators, institutions, employers, schools, and organizations that failed to protect them.
Every inquiry is handled with discretion, professionalism, and care – and includes:
- A Private, Confidential Conversation
When you contact our office, you’ll speak with a member of our team in a confidential setting. We approach these conversations with sensitivity, professionalism, and respect.
- Understanding Your Situation
We will ask questions to better understand what happened, how it has affected you, and whether your situation may support a civil claim. This allows us to carefully assess the circumstances and determine how we may be able to help.
- Clear Guidance on Your Legal Options
Our team will explain the legal options available to you, what the process may involve, and what you can realistically expect moving forward. We believe survivors deserve straightforward guidance delivered with clarity and compassion.
- Careful Case Evaluation
Every inquiry is reviewed carefully by our team. Due to the serious nature of these cases and the level of attention required, not all inquiries will lead to representation. Our priority is ensuring that every potential client receives thoughtful and professional consideration.
- Next Steps
Where appropriate, we will outline the next steps involved in pursuing a civil claim and explain how our team can support you throughout the legal process. We are committed to helping survivors pursue accountability with experienced and compassionate legal representation.
Every Situation Is Unique
No two survivors have the same experience. The circumstances, evidence, timing, and parties involved can all affect whether a civil claim may be available.
Many people contact us because they are unsure whether they have a case. That uncertainty is normal.
Our role is to understand your circumstances, explain your legal options, and determine whether our practice is the right fit for your situation.
Why Some Cases Require a Different Legal Approach
Some sexual assault claims involve more than the actions of one individual.
When abuse occurs in connection with a school, workplace, healthcare provider, sports organization, religious institution, or another organization, additional legal considerations may apply.
These cases often require a careful review of who knew about the abuse, what responsibilities existed, and whether an organization failed to take reasonable steps to protect others.
Because every situation is different, we carefully evaluate each case to determine the most appropriate legal approach before recommending the next steps.
When the Defendant Is an Institution, the Case Is Different
When a sexual assault claim involves an institution – such as an employer, school, or organization – the case can become more complex. Responsibility may extend beyond one individual.
At Hanson Kohan Lawyers, we intentionally limit our caseload so you have direct access to your lawyer and a strategy tailored to your specific situation.
Focused Representation for Complex Abuse Claims
Our practice focuses on complex civil sexual assault claims involving abuse of authority and institutional accountability.
Rather than handling every type of legal matter, we concentrate on cases that require careful investigation, individualized legal strategies, and experienced civil representation.
We intentionally limit our caseload so you have direct access to your lawyer, clear communication throughout the process, and a strategy tailored to your circumstances.
If your situation involves complex legal issues or potential institutional responsibility, we can assess whether our approach is the right fit for your circumstances.
Proving Consent
Under the rules of Civil Law, the perpetrator must prove they had the victim’s consent to the sexual act.
It may be impossible for the perpetrator to prove that they had the victim’s “consent” if:
- the victim was coerced through threats of violence or public humiliation.
- the perpetrator was in a position of authority over the victim (such as an employer, a medical or aesthetic treatment professional, a teacher, or sports coach).
Although financial compensation will not take away the memories of the experience you survived, it will make the perpetrator responsible and accountable.
Our lawyer’s efforts would be to respectfully represent your best interests to recover damages (money) from the perpetrators or the organization they were representing at the time of the assault. This includes any place where the events took place: at school, church, or as part of the sport association/organization.
You Don't Have To Face This Alone
While this may seem like a steep hill to climb, we have seen many successful cases with the right lawyer.
Financial compensation cannot undo the suffering inflicted, but it can help with the recovery needed to get your life back on track.
Jim Hanson and his team will fight on your behalf to get you the compensation you deserve and closure to this painful part of your life. We take the time to understand you and your situation, and we take a highly individualized approach to your case.
Our team’s priority is to help you feel engaged throughout the legal process, keeping you informed every step of the way.
We Stand With You
Here’s how our clients describe their experience working with us:
‘I am really pleased about my experience working with the Hanson Kohan team. Communication was always friendly, professional and prompt. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.’ – NB
‘I had the pleasure to be legally represented by Hanson Kohan, who are incredibly knowledgeable, professional and compassionate. Personally, it was not easy understanding law especially for assault cases but once I was recommended to the Hanson Kohan team, everything was communicated to me in a comprehensible and effective manner. I received wonderful recommendations to services to help me cope with my situation. They fostered a sense of confidence that I initially lacked. With Hanson Kohan’s services, especially with them on my side, I received most reliable legal advice and professional service with a great outcome – highly recommend them. – CP
How Does Compensation Work?
Hanson Kohan has extensive experience with the full range of personal injury claims. We have secured damages for clients in the following categories:
Before You Contact Us: What to Expect
Taking the first step can feel difficult. Our team is here to help you understand your legal options.
Your first conversation is an opportunity to discuss your circumstances in a private, respectful, and confidential setting.
We’ll listen to your experience, explain the legal options that may be available, answer your questions, and help you understand whether a civil claim may be appropriate.
If we can assist you, we’ll explain the next steps. If another legal approach would better suit your circumstances, we’ll explain that openly so you can make an informed decision.
Protect Your Rights
If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual assault, contact us by calling (604)984-7555 or complete this confidential form to arrange your free and confidential no-obligation consultation. We are proud to serve people in the Province of British Columbia and beyond.
